Her Dominant SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 9) Page 12

  “How did you find out about all of this?” Drake demanded.

  “I pick up side work as a housekeeper at a lot of different places across town. Like the courthouse, the motel. Hell, I clean people’s houses. I’ve worked every place but the sheriff’s office. It’s amazing the information you pick up.”

  “Goddammit, Evie, are you out of your little mind?! That’s dangerous as hell.” Drake yelled.

  “But cousin Huey doesn’t need his house cleaned. How come everyone with the meth trade seems to be dirty? Pun intended.”

  Drake’s head was pounding. The only saving grace was that Aiden looked just as upset.

  “What’s all the ruckus about?” Karen said as she walked in the kitchen.

  “I’ll tell you what it’s about. My sister thinks she’s Jamie Bond. She’s been spying on everybody in town.” Drake pulled down a mug and poured Karen a cup of coffee. Once again, she was wearing pink. Some SEAL he was, pink was now becoming his favorite color.

  “Jamie, what do you know about me?”

  “Word on the street is that you’re from Alaska, you have a master’s degree in education, and you have an online shopping addiction.”

  Karen raised her mug. “You forgot to mention that I have the hots for your brother.”

  Evie snickered. “That damn degree didn’t do you a damn bit of good.”

  “Hey!” Drake protested as he gently put his arm around Karen. Gratified when she leaned into him. “Did you call Lacy?”

  She nodded.

  “Everybody but Evie out of my kitchen.”

  “Ah, come on. Five days ago you were calling me Eva.”

  “Five days ago, Drake wasn’t here to remind me you were always Evie growing up,” Trenda said touching her sister on the nose with a flour covered finger.

  “Nah, it’s Evie Lavender, get it right.”

  “I like that. Eva Lavender,” Aiden said.

  Evie blushed. “Weren’t you all told to get the hell out of the kitchen.”

  “I have some calls to make anyway,” Drake said. “I was just in here for coffee, and to make sure that biscuits were on the menu.”

  “Out,” Trenda pointed.

  Drake, Aiden, and Karen turned to leave.

  “Hey, when’s breakfast?”

  “I refuse to use instant grits, so give it a half hour.”

  Drake came back into the kitchen and opened the pantry.

  “What now?”

  He brought out a package of Oreo cookies. “This will tide me over.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” Trenda went to the fruit bowl and handed him three bananas and three apples. “Share with the others, and eat these before you start in on the cookies.”

  “I make no promises.”

  ***

  He got out to the living room and found Karen waiting for him.

  “Where’s Aiden?”

  “He said he had to check his e-mail.”

  Drake nodded. Karen eyed his bounty of food, and plucked the Oreos out of his hands and opened the package.

  “So what are we doing?”

  “It’s seven o’clock here, I thought I would wake up a buddy of mine and start his day out right.”

  “That’s not nice. Shouldn’t we wait.”

  “Nope, if the shoe was on the other foot, he’d do the same thing.” He tipped his head towards study, and she followed him.

  “Are you really going to eat all that fruit?” she asked.

  “Only if you pilfer all the Oreos.” He shouldered his way into the study. “Shit, my laptop’s upstairs. Give me those.” He took the package away from her. Then laughed when she stuck out her lower lip. He pulled out two and handed them to her. He left, jogged up the stairs and met Aiden as he was coming down.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s dull.”

  “Dull’s good. Karen’s in the study. I’m getting my laptop. We’re going to call Clint.”

  Aiden laughed. “You’re mean. Isn’t he engaged? You’re going to pull him out of a warm bed?”

  “Oh, I’m pulling them both out. Lydia’ll want in on this too.”

  “I forgot. They work as a team.”

  “She’s something else.” Drake had always been happy for his buddy, but there had always been some envy as well. It wasn’t there anymore. Huh, that was surprising.

  “What?” Aiden asked.

  “Nothing. Go join Karen in the study.”

  “I’ll take those,” Aiden said as he grabbed the cookies out of Drake’s hands.

  Drake grabbed his laptop and was back to see Aiden settled in one of the two leather chairs opposite Karen. He took the desk. He booted up his laptop and called Clint’s number.

  “Archer.”

  “Hey man, I need your help.”

  “Drake, it’s about damn time you called.” Clint sounded pretty alert for four in the morning. He heard a woman’s voice in the background.

  “Hey!” Clint said, then Lydia was talking.

  “Drake, I was worried about you. Are you in Jasper Creek? Are your sisters okay? What’s going on?”

  Shit, was nothing a secret? Had everybody seen through his lies?

  “Yeah, I’m in Jasper Creek. My sisters are currently fine. But we have a couple of issues. I need some information.”

  There was a long pause, then for the first time since he’d known her, Lydia was tentative. “Is this about your father?”

  “Yeah, he’s out of prison, and-”

  “What?” she screeched. “Clint. What the fuck is wrong with you? Drake’s father is out of prison. I thought you had it arranged so you’d be notified when that would happen.”

  Seriously. Seriously. Nothing was fucking sacred in the Midnight Delta team.

  “Do you know the type of underwear I wear?” he asked Lydia.

  “Boxer briefs,” she quickly answered.

  Thank God, she got it wrong, he mostly went commando.

  “Why are you talking to my woman about underwear?” Clint asked. “I want to know about that asshole of a father who’s out of prison. Was your family notified?”

  “Nope came as a total surprise to them. My youngest sister had to climb out a window to get away from him.”

  “Piper?”

  Drake sighed. “Is there anything you don’t know?”

  “I know it all.”

  “Do you know what my dad was up to in prison?”

  “I said I know about you.” Clint sounded frustrated. “Not that you made it easy, with all your damn lying. What was up with that? Did you think we would think any less of you?”

  Drake sighed, glad he didn’t have this on speaker phone. He really didn’t want Aiden and Karen to hear how he’d been lying to his teammates for years. Clint was right, he should have come clean ages ago.

  “Avery?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Okay, I don’t know what your father has been up to. You want to fill me in, and tell me the reason for your call?”

  “I’m going to put you on speaker.” He set the phone down on the desk and turned up the volume. “Clint, I have Aiden O’Malley and Karen Eastman with me. Karen is one of Piper’s teachers.”

  There was a long pause why Clint assimilated that Aiden was there, and not a normal member of Midnight Delta. Aiden might have assisted on a couple of Midnight Delta missions, but he wasn’t a core team member, and he knew it rankled for Clint.

  “Archer?” Aiden said. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. Your team just got done with a three-week mission, I was rested. So, I was the logical choice.”

  “Bullshit,” Lydia coughed.

  Karen laughed.

  “Quit it. He’s here, and now I need the both of you to help me out. There is a lot of shit going down in this town. I need to know all of the scoopage, and fast.”

  “Give us names.”

  “Judge Andrew Comey. Sheriff Delmar Arnold. My dad, Norv-”

  “We’ve got him,” Clint interrupted.

/>   “What you don’t have on him, is what he was up to in prison. I’ve run into some of his buddies from prison. Apparently, he’s been operating the meth trade from prison, using his cousin Huey as his point man on the outside. So, check out Huey Avery. Dad’s been feeding him parolees. Also, I need to know about the Aryan Nation out of Pikeville. Rumor on the street is that by the end of the month more will be coming into Jasper Creek to help.”

  Karen sat up straighter, then grabbed her side and paled.

  “Fuck, you’re just having a grand old party, aren’t you?” Clint quipped.

  “That’s not the end of it. Trenda-”

  “That’s your oldest sister, right?” Clint asked.

  “Yeah. Anyway, Trenda said that there is an influx of heroin here. So, Huey and my dad might be diversifying.”

  Aiden gave a low whistle.

  “Now are you done?” Clint asked.

  “That’s all I know.”

  “Where are you all? I’m assuming you’re holed up somewhere the bad guys can’t find you.”

  “We’re at the Carmendy Chalet. It’s run by a guy named Larry Hemet. That reminds me, can you check out him and two guys named Jim and Blake. They run a hotel...” Drake turned to Aiden.

  “They run a little hotel called Whispering Pines. I talked to them. I think Drake’s being paranoid, but I support paranoia.”

  “I also know Larry Hemet,” Karen spoke up. “I’ve known him for five years. I would vouch for him, but with everything that’s going on, it probably doesn’t hurt to check up on everybody. Including me.”

  “Nothing personal ma’am, but I already wrote down your name.”

  “Goddammit, Clint. Karen’s off-limits.”

  Aiden chuckled. “Every woman in Jasper Creek is off limits. Especially the ones with the last name of Avery.”

  “Lydia and I should have all the information you need by tonight.”

  “You should talk to his sister, Evie,” Karen said. “She has been gathering intelligence on a lot of people here in Jasper Creek.”

  “Good point,” Drake said. “I’ll have her give you a call a little later.”

  “I’ll look forward to meeting some of the Avery clan,” Clint said. “Later.” The line went dead.

  Drake grinned.

  “I like your teammate,” Karen said as she carefully leaned back in her chair.

  “Everything was good except where he said he would do a background check on you,” Drake said as he put his phone in his pocket.

  “What the hell, I passed Evie’s. It’s all good.”

  Aiden got up and took an apple off the desk. “I’m not sure they’re as good as Dexter is on my team.” He smiled at Drake.

  “Why do you have to be like that? You’re just talking shit to get my goat.”

  “Maybe. But it’s fun to yank your chain.” Aiden bit into the apple and swallowed. “Have you talked to Trenda about Piper’s possible entitlements?”

  “I figured I would at breakfast.”

  “Yeah, if that ever happens,” Aiden said morosely.

  “Only another ten minutes,” Drake said looking at his watch. “When we talk to everyone, I don’t want to tell them everything, okay?”

  “I certainly don’t want to mention the Aryan Brotherhood,” Karen said.

  “Yep, certain things need to remain between us, Clint and Lydia.”

  “And Eva,” Aiden said.

  “Just remember, Avery women are off limits.”

  “I remember what you said,” Aiden assured him.

  How come Karen was smiling?

  ***

  “What happened last night?” Piper asked at breakfast.

  Karen squeezed Drake’s leg under the table, trying to offer some comfort as he tried to side-step his little sister’s question.

  “I talked to Dad. He said Mom’s worried about you.”

  Piper bit her lip, but then she squared her shoulders. “I don’t believe it. Half the time I was at the house, she barely noticed me.”

  “Piper, was there any kind of money Mom was getting for you living at the house?” Drake asked.

  “I think she was getting something from the government and then there was the money from you.”

  “Was there anything else that you can think of? Anything of value?” Drake prompted.

  “If anything, she complained about all I cost. Especially when Granny’s taxes came due,” Piper said.

  “Granny’s taxes?”

  “I told you about the books Granny Laughton left me. Well, she also left me her house and land, but nobody wants it. Mom tried to rent it, and when that didn’t work, she tried to sell it. So far nobody’s bought it.”

  “It’s really sad because Granny left it to Piper to take a burden off you, Drake.” Trenda sighed.

  “Damn, that’s so sweet.” Drake grinned.

  “Yeah, it’s the thought that counts,” Evie said.

  “Mom doesn’t even help with the property taxes,” Piper said sadly. “Trenda pays for them.”

  “I don’t give Mom enough money.” Drake sighed.

  “Cousin Huey gives her enough for her to stay overnight at the Indian casino. She goes with her friend Junie all the time.”

  Karen winced at Piper’s bitter tone. Then she got pissed. “Piper, how often are you staying alone at your house?” Karen asked softly.

  Drake’s head whipped over to look at her. He must have caught on that she was angry. Good, he was catching onto her moods.

  “Not that often,” Piper said. She moved her eggs around on her plate.

  “Piper, answer me.” Karen used her best teacher’s voice.

  “Probably two nights a week,” the girl admitted.

  “Dammit, Piper, you should have told us,” Evie roared. God, she sounded like a female version of Drake.

  “I didn’t want you guys to worry. You have enough on your plates.”

  Drake shook his head in disbelief. “Trenda, do you remember when Mom used to take us to the park and read to us? What happened?”

  “That was a million years ago. Before the twins came along. She changed. Sometimes it scares me. Will I turn into her?”

  “Fuck no,” Evie said. She leapt up from her chair, dashed over and hugged her sister. “She’s sick. Somehow a switch flipped, and she just lost her mind. You’re nothing like her.”

  Trenda pushed up slowly from the table. “I’m going to go wake up Bella. I need to give her a hug.”

  “I’m going with you.” Evie put her arm around her sister’s shoulder, and they walked down the hall.

  “Wait for me.” Piper pushed up from her chair so that it teetered.

  Karen looked at Drake. “You need to go with them.”

  “I’ll be out of place. It’s girl time.”

  “No, it’s family time,” she said gently. She saw a hopeful look flash across his face before he tamped it down. “Go,” she prodded again. “Aiden and I have the dishes.”

  “We do? I didn’t agree to that.”

  “Hush. You’ll do as you’re told.”

  Drake reached out and brushed his lips against hers. “The teacher voice is hot. Make sure he pre-rinses before he loads the dishes into the dishwasher.”

  Karen smiled as she watched him saunter down the hall to be with his sisters.

  “Nicely done,” Aiden complimented.

  “Three brothers,” Karen explained succinctly.

  “Ahhh.”

  ***

  “Don’t you think the hospital is overkill?” Karen protested for the forty-third time.

  “Baby, you’re moving worse today.”

  Karen looked down to where Drake was holding her hand in the front seat of the SUV. He continued to stroke his thumb back and forth over the base of her hand. It gave her shivers.

  “You know it gets worse before it gets better.”

  “I want you to get x-rays.”

  “You’re like a mother hen.” And she loved it. When Drake was protective she fe
lt cherished. When her family treated her like this she wanted to scream.

  He was like a warm blanket that she wanted to wrap herself in. God, she had it bad. How could she be falling this fast? Was it propinquity, or was she actually falling in love for the first and last time in her life?

  He looked over at her while they were at a stop light. “That’s an interesting look on your face, Ms. Eastman. What’s going through your head?”

  “We’ve only known each other a few days, Mr. Avery, and it feels like so much longer. You scare me.”

  He brought her hand to his lips. “No, I don’t. And that’s what really scares you.”

  Damn, how did he manage to get in her head like that?

  “The light’s green.”

  He grinned at her and started driving again.

  “You shouldn’t have taken me to the hospital, Aiden should have.”

  “Bullshit.”

  She sighed, lost in thought. She’d wanted him to take her. What the hell was wrong with her?

  He stopped, and she reached for her door.

  “Wrong. You wait for me to open your door for you.”

  “Do you always do that for your women?”

  “I’m a southern boy. What do you think? Also, let’s be perfectly clear, Karen. I haven’t had a woman I’ve considered mine, at least not before now.”

  He got out of the car before she could say anything. He couldn’t possibly be serious. When he reached in and helped her out, she stared at him, stunned.

  “You’re going to catch flies.”

  “It’s snowing, there aren’t any flies.”

  “You’ll catch a snowflake with your mouth open. Actually, I think you’re issuing an invitation.” His eyes darkened. He cupped her face and captured her cold lips in a warm and lush kiss. Soon she didn’t even realize she was in the middle of the hospital parking lot. All she knew is that her heart was racing and heat sizzled through her veins. It wasn’t snowing, she was in the middle of the tropics.

  When he started to move away, she grabbed him. “More.”

  “We have to go inside, you’re shivering.”

  “Of course, I am. It’s not the cold. You pack a wallop, Avery.”

  His eyes sparkled like black diamonds.

  “Still, we have to get you inside.”

  She looked around. Two nurses were staring at them. “Dammit, Avery, we’re kissing at the entrance. You’re dropping me off and kissing me at the entrance!”